Woman grabs puppy by leash and violently swings it like a weapon at owner in horrifying road rage video
Police in Halifax, Canada, are investigating after a horrifying video circulating on social media showed a woman swinging a puppy tied to a leash and using it to assault another woman. The incident unfolded on July 1 at around 5:30 pm, with the Halifax Regional Police called to the 600 Block of Windmill Road, Dartmouth, on reports of a physical altercation taking place between four adult women, according to a press release. "The altercation started after two females in one vehicle confronted two females in the second vehicle regarding being cut off in a drive-thru," the police said.
One video captured the start of the altercation and showed one of the women approaching the car of the other and arguing with its passenger. The argument quickly escalates and the woman standing outside starts physically assaulting the other. "Police attended the scene and those involved did not wish to pursue assault charges," the Halifax police said. "There were initial reports of a dog being involved but the extent was not clear at the time. Officers checked on two dogs in one vehicle while at the scene and they appeared to be in good health."
However, a second video captured by another motorist showed one of the women grabbing the other's puppy by its leash and dragging it by the neck towards her car. When the terrified owner runs after her to get the puppy back, the woman starts swinging it and smashes it across the owner's face. After a brief struggle, where the woman once again swings the puppy by the neck, the owner succeeds in getting it back but not before she's whipped by the leash.
Brittany McGuire, who was in the vehicle that was allegedly cut off, told CTV News that words were exchanged before the driver of the other vehicle got out and started assaulting her passenger. "All of a sudden she’s around to my side and the dog is out of the car, and she has him and everyone can see from the video what happened," she said, adding that it was her puppy, Ace, who was the unfortunate victim. "I thought that my dog was going to die because there was traffic everywhere, people everywhere," she shared. "I just wanted him in my arms because I didn’t want him to get run over and I thought that she was choking him to death."
She said she hopes that the woman will face animal abuse charges but that she is currently just glad she got back home safe. "Maybe we could have been better people and let them in front of us," she admitted. "We could have let it go, but when you involve an innocent animal that is only three-months-old, I was afraid I was going to have to go home to my two children and tell them I wasn’t bringing home their puppy."
"Halifax Regional Police are continuing to investigate the mistreatment of the dog," the police said. "The investigation is in the early stages and updates will be provided when they are available." Anyone with information about the incident is advised to contact the Halifax Police at 902-490-5016. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or by using the P3 Tips app.